PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 77 



weeks of hot weather in September would ripen it effectually. 

 He had known a farmer in Pennsylvania to obtain a good crop 

 from corn planted on the 17th of June. For many years he had 

 sown buckwheat from the 4th to the 19th of July ; and the best 

 crop he ever had, was sown upon the 11th of July. It is a little 

 hazardous, but as you get clear of the frost, in sowing at that 

 time, the crop is the best. The hot weather seems to blight the 

 earlier blossoms. Shoots are sent out in succession for a number 

 of days. Turnips he would sow the first of August. Sweet corn, 

 for boiling, may be planted at any time up to July 10th. He 

 had matured the seed of sweet corn planted on July 1st. 



Dr. Waterbury said that the produce of corn would depend 

 upon the aggregate amount of sunshine that fell upon it during 

 its growth. He preferred using varieties requiring a long season, 

 when he could. If the spring was backward he would go north 

 for another variety. His neighbors never could do so well, in a 

 good season, with the eight-rowed Canada, as he could with the 

 sixteen-rowed North river corn. The only difficulty was that he 

 had to be exceedingly careful in curing the stalks. He concurred 

 with Dr. Trimble's suggestions as to the cultivation of corn. It 

 ought to be planted upon sod-land, and the ground should not be 

 touched until just before planting. The growth upon that sod, 

 previous to planting, will be wholly assimilated by the corn crop 

 before fall. As to buckwheat, he had sowed it about the 4th of 

 July. It is an object to have it filled in cool weather. 



Mr. Gale said that whether corn is planted earlier or later, the 

 ground must be brought to a certain temperature, probably about 

 56° Fahrenheit, before the corn will germinate at all. If put in 

 before that it might as well be in the corn-crib as in the ground. 

 He mentioned having raised an excellent crop of corn, which was 

 planted while his neighbors were hoeing their corn, upon a field 

 which he had intended to mow. He would not put corn into the 

 ground until he was satisfied that it would germinate in six or 

 seven days. In 1857, while his neighbors planted corn, some of 

 them three times, he had no trouble. He planted later, and 

 covered it not exceeding half an inch. He had the best corn 

 raised that season within five miles of it, and attributed it to 

 these facts. As to buckwheat, the 4th of July was early enough. 

 It is a very peculiar cereal, and if it does not happen to have the 

 right weather at the right time it is sure to blast. 



